Wear Flowers in Your Hair
Ah, San Francisco! The true promised land of hippiedom. I am leaving the scorching suns of central Texas for what I hope will prove to be the much cooler confines of San Francisco Bay. Unlike Scott McKenzie, however, I don’t think I shall be tucking begonias or lilies behind my ears. The law don’t always smile on the flower pickers. Johnny Cash taught me that.
But since I’ll be packing my bags and taking flight to see the splendor of San Fran, a Wonderful Wednesday in honor of the so-called Paris of the West was in order. And what better way could there be to kick it off than with San Fran’s own transplanted Texan.
Combination Of The Two – Big Brother & the Holding Company
This particular track opens the band’s second album Cheap Thrills (originally the album was to be titled Sex, Dope and Cheap Thrills but this was poo-pooed by some suits). It’s rambunctious and damned infectious. You can’t help but throw down some “do-dos” with Janis and the gang. For my money, Cheap Thrills is the crowning achievement of Joplin’s brief musical legacy.
Another one-time Texas transplant to the Bay Area was San Antonio’s Doug Sahm. His influence on popular music in the 60s and beyond is, in my opinion, severely understated. He seamlessly melded an array of influences, from Tejano and San Fran’s psychedelic scene to classic country and straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll. He’s damned close to desert island status. And what better way to celebrate his straddling of locales and influences than with his classic plea, Mendocino.
No band is quite as synonymous with Frisco as The Grateful Dead. And I wouldn’t be much of a fan if I left them out of the mix for this post. So, here’s Ripple, a beautiful and folksy tune from their masterpiece album, American Beauty.
With two baseball games, a side-trip to Tahoe and a weekend chock full o’frisbee, all signs point to good times. Happy Wednesday, kiddos.
